Nov. 9, 2012
Box Score | Coach Jones' Postgame Comments
BOSTON - In a season-opening contest that saw nine lead changes during the final seven minutes of action, the Boston University men's basketball team and Northeastern battled to the end with the Huskies draining a 3-pointer in the final moments to defeat the Terriers, 65-64, on Friday night at Matthews Arena.
Finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench, sophomore Malik Thomas nailed his lone 3-point attempt of the game from the corner to give BU a 63-62 edge at 1:13. After both teams missed open looks at the basket, junior Travis Robinson forced Northeastern's Joel Smith into a turnover and then went 1-of-2 from the free throw line with 10.7 seconds remaining.
The Huskies drove up the court quickly and used a screen to create an opening for Demetrius Pollard, who caught the ball at the top of the key and flushed it for the win in an annual crosstown rivalry that has intensified over the last several seasons. The contest marked the fourth straight year that the game went down to the final possession in regulation with two having to ber decided in overtime.
Junior D.J. Irving joined Thomas as the second Terrier in double figures with a team-high 18 points. He started in his first career game at Matthews Arena two years ago and was now a captain with two freshmen on the court at tip-off, marking the first time since 2006 that BU had more than one in the lineup to open a season.
Freshman Nathan Dieudonne contributed seven points and a game-high nine rebounds, while classmate Maurice Watson Jr. tallied six points and four assists at the point. A total of 11 men saw action with junior Travis Robinson posting a personal-best nine rebounds along with three steals. Junior Dom Morris neared his third career double-double with eight points and seven boards to help BU out-rebound Northeastern, 39-29.
Feeding off the energy from the 3,242 fans in attendance, Joel Smith recorded 16 of his 20 game-high points in the second half to help the Huskies overcome a nine-point halftime deficit. Reggie Spencer finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Quincy Ford was one board shy of a double-double with 11 points.
The game opened with a frantic pace, as the teams were tied at 10 apiece just five minutes into the contest. After Irving nailed a jumper, freshman John Papale hit his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Terriers a four-point advantage, 18-14, at 12:34.
Smith moved Northeastern within one, 18-17, two minutes later, but then the Terriers scored the game's next nine points with Dieudonne draining a trey and then later finishing at the rim off his own missed attempt. Thomas ended the half with BU's final eight points to put the visitors ahead, 35-26.
BU shot 48.5 percent from the field to grab the nine-point halftime lead and held Northeastern to 1-of-10 from beyond the arc. The Huskies though increased the defensive pressure in the second half and attacked the basket more often, quickly putting multiple Terriers into foul trouble.
Northeastern went 17-of-22 at the charity stripe in the second half and brought the deficit to one, 39-38, at 13:19 off two made free throws by Spencer. Eight minutes later, Ford made one at the line to give the Huskies their first lead of the half, 53-52.
The game then seesawed back and forth until the Huskies made the final field goal of the game.
BU finished with eight assists against 13 turnovers, while Northeastern had 13 and 11, respectively. The Huskies held a slight edge in points in the paint, 30-28, but the Terriers recorded a 12-3 advantage in second-chance points.
The Terriers will remain on the road and visit Canisius on Monday (Nov. 12) with action slated to begin at 7 p.m. The contest marks a return game for the 2011 BracketBusters contest won by BU at home, 70-62.
